Sealed package



May 2.8, 1957 Filed April 12, 1955 F. J. LEFEBVRE SEALED PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 28, 1957 F. J. LEFEBVRE SEALED PACKAGE 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed April l2, 1955 United States Patent-.O

SEALED PACKAGE Frank J. Lefebvre, Caldwell, N. J., assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 195s, serial No. 500,843

' z claims. (ci. 20s-46) This invention relates in general to commodity packages of the type comprising a plurality of layers of packaging material, at least two of which are sealed together in Zones forming and bounding a commodity receiving compartment, between the layers of which is located the commodity. For example, the invention contemplates a package that comprises layers of packing material such as Plioilm, cellophane or metal foil sealed together to form an article containing compartment between the layers.

The preservation of the commodity and the neat appearance of the package once the package has been opened in packages of this character involves difliculty as it is dilcult to maintain the package air tight once it has been opened and to keep it in a neat orderly appearance. Accordingly one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a package of this general character which shall have ready means to facilitate sealing the package by the user of the package.

The application of labels or backing or facing sheets to packages of this character also involves diiculty in handling of the various sheets of material and in sealing the label, backing or facing sheet and the layers of packaging material. Another object of the invention is to provide a package of this general character which shall have a label, backing or facing sheet attached thereto in a novel and improved way whereby the package can be rapidly and economically produced, the label can be easily inserted into a pocket in the package and the pocket can be sealed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which- Figure l is a front elevational view of a labelled package embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mouth end of the package showing the contents being discharged therefrom.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front perspective view of the package of Figure 1 before sealing of the mouth end thereof and showing the label partially applied.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale taken on the plane of the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views showing progressive steps in the sealing of the mouth or open end of the package.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken on the planes of the lines 9 9, 1li-10 and 11-11 of Figures 6, 7 and 8, respectively, on a larger scale.

Figure 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 12-12 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises three layers or strips 1, 2 and 3 of suitable packaging material, for example, Pliolm, cellophane, metal foil or the like, the uppermost strip 1 when viewed in Figure 4 being Patented May 28, 1957 shorter than the other strips. The strips are sealed together by suitable dies along their longitudinal edges as indicated at 4 and transverse edges as indicated at 5 to form a bag-like receptacle sealed on both `sides and at the bottom and having an open top end or mouth 6 facing upwardly between the strips 2 and 3 for receiving a commodity such as pills or tablets 7 or other substance, and simultaneously to form a pocket or compartment 8 with an open mouth facing upwardly to receive a label, backing or facing sheet 9. After the package is thus partially formed, the commodity or substance 7 is deposited in the bag-like lstructure by suitable filling mechanism. The label 9 may then be inserted downwardly through the open mouth of the pocket '8 as shown in Figure 4.

According to the present invention, a pressure sensitive adhesive strip or tape 10 is pasted across the outer surface of the layer or strip 1 from side to side thereof adjacent the open end of the pocket 8.

In the manufacture of the package, the upper or open mouth end of the superposed layers 2 and 3 constituting the bag-like receptacle is folded or turned upon itself a number of times suflcient to bring the lower edge of a fold into alignment with the strip 10 at which time pressure exerted against the fold will force it into sealing contact with the strip 10. In Figure 6, theupper open mouth end is shown folded once upon itself, and in Figure 7, it is shown folded again upon itself so as to bring the lowermost end of the second fold into a position to be folded against the strip 10 and pressed thereagainst in any suitable manner to form a seal as indicated at 11 in Figure 8. 'Ihe folds of the material cover the mouth or open end of the pocket thereby sealing the'label 9 in said pocket.

In use, in order to gain access to the contents of the package, the seal 11 along the strip 10 is broken and the material is unfolded and straightened out to the condition shown in Figure 3 whereby the contents of the package may be readily discharged through the mouth end thereof. In order to reseal the package to preserve the commodity and to retain its original neat appearance,-it is only necessary for the user to refold the material using the same fold lines and pressing the folds against the strip 10. This process is repeated each time the package is opened to discharge the contents as will be understood. In this manner, the package is effectly resealed and its neat and attractive appearance maintained.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes in details might be made without departing from the scope of the invention and I desire to be limited only by the state of the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure byUnited States Letters Patent is:

l. A sealed labelled package comprising at least three superposed rectangular layers of packaging material one of which is shorter than the other two layers, said layers having been sealed together along the side edges and the bottom edges thereof to provide a bag-like commodity receiving compartment open at the top end and in which a commodity is contained and to provide a pocket open at the top end between the shorter layer and one of the other layers and in which a label is removably disposed, the open top end portion of the compartment being folded on and overlying the outer surface of the short layer, and a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive permanently disposed on the outer surface of said short layer and spaced inwardly from the top end thereof to separably seal the folded portion to the outer lsurface of said short laver and thereby close both said compart ment and said pocket.

2. A lebelled package comprising at least three superposed rectangular layers of packaging material one of which is shorter than the other two layers, said layers being sealed together along the side edges and the bottom edges thereof to .provide a bag-like commodity receiving compartment open at vthe top end to receive a commodity and to' provide a pocket open at the top end between the `shorter layer and one of the other layers and into which a label is removably insertible, the open top end portion of the compartment being foldable into overlying relation to the outer surface of the short layer, and a strip of pressure Sensitive adhesive permanently disposed on the outer surface of said short layer and spaced inwardly from the top end thereof and against which is adapted to be pressed the folded top end portion of the compartment for separably sealing said folded portion to the References Cited in the le of this patent outer surface of said short layer so as to close both said 15 compartment and said pocket.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Poppe July 14, Diamond Oct. 10, Kellogg Nov. 5, Salsberg Mar. 14, McKeen Apr. 17, Shumann Apr. 13, Salifsberg Mar. 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 17, 

